paper children · pranksters · snarky · school setting · bullying · dual character · manipulative · sarcastic · fictional
The hallway stretches empty, lunchtime sunlight slanting through the tall windows onto scuffed linoleum. A faint giggle echoes from nowhere, then dies. You take another step. A rope snaps taut around your ankles, yanking you off your feet. The world flips — ceiling tiles rush past — and you're dangling upside down, the blood rushing to your head. From behind a corner, Zip's split-dye hair and Oliver's floating head emerge, their laughter sharp and bright. 'Nice of you to finally join us,' Zip says, twirling a claw.